Campaign Techniques: Letters to the Editor

As campaigners and activists for green energy in all its forms, writing letters of support to newspapers, your elected representatives and are some of the most useful things you can do, and now that most online media outlets and websites also have areas for members of the public to comment, these can also be effective ways of getting your point across. In the first of a series of short campaign guides, we take a look at letter writing for newspapers.

Newspapers and online media play a big part in forming public opinion, which in turn influences politicians. The stories they print and their attitude to certain issues will be shaped by the editor and owner, but also by the public. In an era of free digital information, to survive a newspaper needs to sell copies, which often means picking stories, or putting a spin on news their audiences will want to hear.

After the headlines and opinion pieces, the letters page is one of the most widely read parts of a newspaper. Enough letters can persuade the editor to change their point of view, or at least moderate it. And even more importantly it’s a chance for you to put your argument across, point out any mistakes the paper has made and perhaps win over other readers. A good letter can make a huge difference to how the public feels about an issue.

Getting your letter read

Every letter makes a difference, but a few points can help make it more likely your letter gets published.

• Be concise, and check previous editions of the paper to get an idea of the right length.  
• Keep to just one topic, don’t be tempted to try and cover too much ground.
• Try to match the style of the paper, and be sure to check their guidelines on form and content. The more formal broadsheets such as the Telegraph probably won’t print your letter if you don’t address it ‘Sir’.
• Demonstrate your experience. If the article claimed wind farms are noisy and disruptive, you will make more of an impression if you can say you live near one and it hasn’t caused you or your neighbours any problems.
• Back up your arguments with facts. The Action for Renewables website and Renewable UK have lots of factsheets busting open the myths about wind.  
• Always read your letter out loud before you send it; it’s a good way of checking that it flows properly and makes sense.
• Keep a copy back. Newspapers will often trim a letter and it’s useful to be able to compare to see if this has happened to you.
• Only send letters to one national paper. Most national newspapers and some of the larger regional papers will only accept a unique letter and will ask if you’ve sent it to any other papers.
• Get your response in quickly. Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper.

Finally, although we realise that anti-wind coverage can make you pretty angry (and we get steamed up about it too) be passionate and firm in your convictions, but always be polite. Oh, and don’t forget to let us know if you get a letter published!

Next week, writing to your MP…